Preston North End striker Jordan Hugill was a target for Leeds United in the summer.
If Preston North End do lose Jordan Hugill eventually, the Lilywhites are doing everything to ensure that they will not be short-changed.
Perhaps encouraged by the recent transfer market explosion that has shaken up the second tier, The Sun is reporting that Preston will demand up to £12 million for their talismanic centre-forward in the January transfer window.
Considering that Chris Wood and Britt Assombalonga went for £15 million in the summer, Preston’s asking price does not actually appear overly ambitious. The question, however, is whether any club would risk paying such a fee for a player who had not hit double figures in a single league season until 2016/17.
A £12 million fee, however, would make Hugill Leeds most expensive signing for 17 years – exceeding the £11 million they paid Liverpool for Robbie Fowler back in 2001. This in itself is a clear indication of just how much the footballing landscape has changed since the turn of the century.
But with The Whites’ form dipping after an excellent start to the season, you wonder whether further recruitment will be on the club’s minds in January. Leeds have scored just one goal in their last three games, all of which have ended in defeat, and lack real depth in attack.
Hamburg loanee Pierre-Michel Lasogga is the club’s only fit and senior centre-forward with the unproven Caleb Ekuban, a summer arrival from Chievo Verona, still on the sidelines. Hugill, however, proved himself in the second tier last season with 12 goals for Preston and, although he has just four so far this, the 25-year-old would provide a strong presence in attack. Whether he’s worth £12 million, however, is another matter.
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